CFU Men’s U-20 Group C kicks off today at Providence Stadium

Oct 06, 2010 Sports

Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada & USVI all confident of winning group

Football fans are in for a treat come this evening at the National Stadium, Providence when Group C action in the Caribbean Football Union World Under-20 qualifying Stage 1 commences.
Hosts Guyana, Jamaica, Grenada and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) will do battle today, tomorrow and Sunday with the group winner advancing to the final round of qualifying, next year.

GFF 2nd Vice President Franklin Wilson (3rd left) shares information with the media at yesterday’s press briefing; others in photo from left are Andrew Edwards (Jamaica), Gordon Brathwaite (Guyana),George Rutherford (Deputy GS GFF), Kenton Roberts (Grenada) and Leonard Appleton (USVI).

Unlike the other three teams, the USVI had to battle their way past the Turks & Caicos Islands in a home and away tie to earn their place in this group, they won the rubber 3-0 in the second leg after a 0-0 tie in the first game.
Yesterday at the GFF Headquarters, Section ‘K’ Campbellville, representatives of all the teams expressed confidence in doing well.
Head Coach of the Grenada team Kenton Roberts said he is pleased to be in Guyana and is looking forward to do a good job for his country. “We have come here on a mission and we are aiming to do well.”
Andrew Edwards, the Assistant Coach of the Jamaica team noted that it was his first visit to Guyana and as a team they are excited to be here. “We are looking forward to a well organised and exciting tournament and of course we are here to do the very best for our country and hopefully we go back as champions of this round of the competition.”
Head Coach of the USVI team Leonard Appleton, a former national player first thanked the Almighty for bringing the team safely to Guyana informing that the USVI is a Federation of three Islands, St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John.
“We are very excited to be here in Guyana, it’s our first time and our guys have really trained hard and we are looking forward to going home also on top. But first of all we are really here to represent the territory and our President Derrick Martins. We are looking forward to taking on the host country in the big match and I am inviting the folks at home to come out and cheer good football, that’s what we are here for.”
Gordon Brathwaite in his comments welcomed the other contingents even though Guyana is going to beat them. He noted that Guyana has been preparing to do just that and hopes that the tournament would be played in a good atmosphere.
“We are looking for good sportsmanship because at the end of it we are looking for good relationships and more inter regional games, we need to see more Jamaican, Grenadian and USVI teams coming here and we hope that the tournament would encourage them to come even though we are going to win.”
Jamaica, Grenada and the USVI all had a good period of preparations according to their coaches Guyana played one warm up game against Trinidad and Tobago which ended in a 0-0 draw.
Jamaica Assistant Coach Andrew Edwards noted that their preparations would have been affected in the past week due to tropical storm Nicole.
“But prior to that, we had good quality camps to prepare the team with most of our boys being involved in competitive football. Our High school competition is in full swing at the moment and the standard there is quite good. Some of the players also play at the Premier league level so we believe that our preparations, despite being affected in the last week, have been quite good and we are hoping that the talent pool we have brought here is good enough to take us through.”
Brathwaite, while highlighting that the preparations for Guyana has not been that long, believes that he has a good crop of players who will be good ambassadors for Guyana at the level.
The USVI team is made up of a number of players who attend College in the United States of America and Henton Roberts stated that they are here to play and are very confident that they will show what they will do.
“We are here to play hard and at the end of the day the results will speak for itself.”
Guyana Football Federation Deputy Secretary George Rutherford in welcoming the teams stated that apart from the intense rivalry expected on the field, the teams (countries) will seek to strengthen the relationship among them during the days they interact on and off the field.
GFF Second Vice President Franklin Wilson in brief remarks encouraged the young teams to do their best on the field of play and to play the game in an atmosphere of fair play.
The Honorable Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony is expected to meet the teams before the start of play this afternoon.
Match Schedule
October 6, 2010
Jamaica vs. Grenada       17:00hrs
Guyana vs. USVI       19:00hrs
October 8, 2010
USVI vs. Jamaica        17:00hrs
Guyana vs. Granada       19:00hrs
October 10, 2010
Grenada vs. USVI       17:00hrs
Guyana vs. Jamaica        19:00hrs